For Immediate Release: July 16, 2010
Corps and State Coordinate Coastal Protection and Restoration Path Forward
NEW ORLEANS - In an effort to continue partnership and shared responsibility in the development of long-term coastal protection and restoration plans for Louisiana, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District, will be embedding employees within the state of Louisiana's Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration.
This effort is intended to further promote coordination and collaboration in the development of the state's coastal Master Plan for 2012.
"Coastal erosion and ecosystem degradation throughout our coast threatens the resources, residents and unique culture of Southern Louisiana," said Tom Holden, deputy district engineer for Project Management. "The USACE and the state, in partnership with local and federal resource agencies, need to work together in developing a long-term solution and goal for the ultimate outcome of our entire coastal system. This co-location of employees is just one way to encourage the ongoing collaborative effort."
Several federal employees will be stationed at the state of Louisiana's Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration office in Baton Rouge.
"Restoring coastal Louisiana's barrier islands and wetlands and protecting our coastal communities is a top priority for the state of Louisiana but these jobs cannot be accomplished without close coordination and an enormous amount of help from our federal partners," said Steve Mathies, executive director for the Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration. "By embedding employees from the Corps of Engineers New Orleans District at OCPR to help craft the 2012 Master Plan, we can work to make sure we are moving forward with a common vision of the future of our coast."
For more information about the Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration and Louisiana's ongoing coastal protection and wetland restoration efforts, please contact Chris Macaluso at (225) 342-3968 or by email at chris.macaluso@la.gov.
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The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority's mandate is to develop, implement and enforce a comprehensive coastal protection and restoration master plan. For the first time in Louisiana's history, this single state authority will integrate coastal restoration and hurricane protection by marshalling the expertise and resources of the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Transportation and Development, and other state agencies, to speak with one clear voice for the future of Louisiana's coast. Working with federal, state and local political subdivisions, including levee districts, the CPRA will work to establish a safe and sustainable coast that will protect our communities, the nation's critical energy infrastructure, and our bountiful natural resources for generations to come. The CPRA of Louisiana was established by Act 8 of the 1st Extraordinary Session of 2005.
